Tiered Approach
In line with the commitment to safeguard capacity and support personnel already in the Organization, a majority of UNDP UNCDF/UNV vacancies are advertised using a tiered application process whereby:
- Tier 0: UNDP/UNCDF/UNV IP staff holding permanent (PA) and fixed-term (FTA) appointments, whose posts will be abolished, or contracts will be terminated or not renewed during 2026.
- Tier 1: Other UNDP/UNCDF/UNV staff holding permanent (PA) and fixed-term (FTA) appointments
- Tier 2: UNDP/UNCDF/UNV staff holding temporary appointments (TA), personnel on regular PSA contracts, and Expert and Specialist UN Volunteers
- Tier 3 or no tier indicated: All other contract types from UNDP/UNCDF/UNV and other agencies, and other external candidates
Please make note of the Tier(s) indicated in the vacancy title, if any, and ensure that you satisfy the eligibility to apply.
Background
The Regional Bureau for Africa (RBA) leads the work of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Sub-Saharan Africa, supporting the implementation of the organization’s Strategic Plan with the objective of eradicating poverty and significantly reducing inequalities and exclusion. UNDP provides proactive strategic oversight and support to 46 country offices across the region, responding to demand for operational, policy, and programme advisory services in close partnership with Central Bureaus.
Within RBA, the Strategy, Analysis and Research Team (SART) provides strategic analysis and upstream policy advice to senior management and programme countries through intellectual leadership on key development challenges in Sub-Saharan Africa. SART’s core areas of work include data analysis and measurement, strategic policy development, and knowledge production on critical development and economic issues. The team produces flagship reports, data-driven analysis, and strategic initiatives that inform decision-making at national, regional, and global levels.
To strengthen the quality, coherence, and impact of its analytical outputs, SART is looking for a Data Visualization Specialist to provide technical leadership, coordination, and applied expertise in communications, data visualization, and knowledge dissemination. The position requires a solid professional understanding of communications and data storytelling, with the ability to work independently, apply conceptual knowledge to practice, innovate approaches, and anchor communications work across multiple initiatives.
Scope of Work:
Under the supervision of Chief Economist, the incumbent will lead and coordinate communications and data storytelling across flagship reports, initiatives, and events, working with multidisciplinary teams, senior stakeholders, and external service providers. The role involves both hands-on technical delivery and coordination and quality assurance, with responsibility for ensuring high standards, coherence, and strategic alignment of communication products. Lead the conceptualization, development, and delivery of data-driven communication products, including infographics, data visualizations, animations, videos, presentations, and digital content.
Duties and Responsibilities
Lead Data Visualization, Strategic Communications, and Knowledge Products:
- Lead the conceptualization, design, and delivery of data-driven knowledge products, including infographics, statistical and comparative charts, interactive and static data visualizations, animations, videos, presentations, and digital content.
- Translate complex quantitative and qualitative analysis into clear, policy-relevant visual narratives, ensuring data accuracy, analytical rigor, and visual coherence for policymakers, senior management, partners, and public audiences.
- Apply advanced data visualization and storytelling techniques and tools, such as trend and temporal analysis, comparative frameworks, geographic mapping, and simplified dashboards, using a range of data visualization, analytics, and design tools, including Power BI, Flourish, and Adobe Creative Suite to enhance accessibility, engagement, and impact across flagship reports and digital platforms.
- Develop country profiles, fact sheets, data stories, and multimedia products, integrating concise narratives with high-quality visuals to support dissemination, outreach, and decision-making.
Manage Flagship Reports and Digital Platforms Management:
- Provide end-to-end communications and visualization support for flagship analytical reports, coordinating inputs across the full production cycle—from research and data preparation to drafting, visual design, publishing, and dissemination.
- Serve as the focal point for coordination with publishing, design, and data-visualization vendors, providing technical guidance on visual standards, ensuring data consistency and quality control, and maintaining compliance with UN editorial and branding guidelines.
- Manage and regularly update programme websites and microsites, ensuring timely publication of data-driven content, including updates to datasets, indicators, and ratings, and maintaining consistency across digital platforms.
Provision of Technical Leadership, Coordination, and Engagement:
- Coordinate communications and data-visualization work across internal teams, regional bureaux, the executive office, and external partners, ensuring alignment of messaging, analytical integrity, and technical standards, applying data visualization and storytelling expertise to support broader organizational priorities.
- Support senior-level meetings, consultations, policy dialogues, and high-level events by developing strategic presentations and visual briefing materials that synthesize complex data for informed decision-making.
- Provide technical advisory support and guidance to colleagues, consultants, and service providers, contributing to capacity strengthening in data visualization and communications.
The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organisation
Institutional Arrangement:
- Under the supervision of Chief Economist, the incumbent will lead and coordinate communications and data storytelling across flagship reports, initiatives, and events, working with multidisciplinary teams, senior stakeholders, and external service providers.
Competencies
Core:
Achieve Results: LEVEL 3:
- Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact
Think Innovatively: LEVEL 3:
- Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems
Learn Continuously: LEVEL 3:
- Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences
Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 3:
- Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demands
Act with Determination: LEVEL 3:
- Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results
Engage and Partner: LEVEL 3:
- Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaboration
Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 3:
- Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivity
Cross-Functional & Technical:
Business Management - Communication:
- Communicate in a clear, concise and unambiguous manner both through written and verbal communication; to tailor messages and choose communication methods depending on the audience.
- Ability to manage communications internally and externally, through media, social media and other appropriate channels.
Business Direction and Strategy - System Thinking:
- Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgement to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to consider how altering one element can impact on other parts of the system
Business Development - Knowledge Generation:
- Ability to research information and to turn it into useful knowledge, relevant for context, or responsive to a stated need. Ability to apply existing concepts to new situations, and to develop new concepts to generate workable solutions and new approaches.
- Knowledge of relevant concepts, conceptual models, and theories that can be useful in addressing new situations.
Business Management - Partnerships Management:
- Build and maintain partnerships with wide networks of stakeholders, Governments, civil society and private sector partners, experts and others in line with UNDP strategy and policies.
Digital - Data storytelling and communications:
- Skilled in building a narrative around a set of data and its
accompanying visualizations to help convey the meaning of that data in a powerful and compelling fashion
Data - Data analysis:
- Ability to extract, analyse and visualize data to form meaningful insights and aid effective business decision making
Communications - Graphic design:
- Ability to communicate visually and create appealing UNDP graphic products.
Required Skills and Experience
Education:
- Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in Communications, Graphic Design, Data Science, or a related field. Or
- A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree)in the areas stated above in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree
Experience:
- Minimum 5 years (with Master’s degree ) or 7 years (with Bachelor’s degree ) of progressively responsible experience at the national and/or international level in communications, data visualization, knowledge management, or related fields.
Experience, Knowledge, and skills:
- Demonstrated experience supporting analytical and research-based reports and working with multidisciplinary technical teams.
Desirable Criteria:
- Demonstrated experience and solid professional understanding of communications and data storytelling principles, with the ability to apply knowledge independently.
- Strong experience in analytical, drafting, and visual communication
- Demonstrated ability to innovate communication approaches and guide applied conceptual work.
- Experience in strong coordination, organizational, and stakeholder management
- Demonstrated ability to work under pressure, manage multiple priorities, and meet tight deadlines.
Required Language(s):
- Fluency in English required.
- Knowledge of French or another UN language is an asset.
Equal opportunity
As an equal opportunity employer, UNDP values diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate and, as such, we encourage qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply for roles in the organization. Our employment decisions are based on merit and suitability for the role, without discrimination.
UNDP is also committed to creating an inclusive workplace where all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, are valued, can thrive, and benefit from career opportunities that are open to all.
Sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse of authority
UNDP does not tolerate harassment, sexual harassment, exploitation, discrimination and abuse of authority. All selected candidates, therefore, undergo relevant checks and are expected to adhere to the respective standards and principles.
Right to select multiple candidates
UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement. We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.
Use of AI by candidates
Applicants are invited to read UNDP’s guidance for candidates on using AI responsibly in UNDP recruitment and selection
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